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With the publication of the College Sustainability Report Card 2010, more than 1,100 school survey responses from over 300 institutions are now available online. In total, these surveys offer more than 10,000 pages of data collected from colleges and universities during the summer of 2009. To access surveys from other schools, go to the surveys section of the website. To see grades, or to access additional surveys submitted by this school, please click the "Back to Report Card" link at the beginning or end of the survey.
Name: Jamie Wolf
Position (in student organization): Ex-officio representative in student government for Student Sustainability Council; member, Students for a Sustainable Environment; volunteer, ACRES Student Farm
Date survey submitted: 7/21/2009
STUDENT ORGANIZATIONS
1) Please describe the student-run campus environmental/sustainability organization in which you have a leadership role.
Name of organization: Student Sustainability Council
Number of active members: 15
Website: N/A
Date of last meeting: May 2009
Frequency of meetings: 2/month
Key issues addressed and programs implemented since August 2008:
A. Sustainable events
B. Education and outreach to more students about campus sustainability
C. Increase funds coming in from the optional student wind fee to increase amount of renewable energy credits purchased by UW
D. Expand and enhance the student farm so more students could become involve; more could be produced; and more local, sustainable and organic produce could be provided to the campus and local community.
Progress made on each issue/program since August 2008:
A. Information and support was provided for composting and recycling at large student events, such as the AG BBQ. Compostable plates, napkins and cutlery were provided at some events, and efforts were made to improve awareness of its availability and ease the process for procuring it. Legislation was passed through the student government requiring any organization receiving funding from the student government for hosting an event to provide recycling bins.
B. SSC provided funding to send 14 students to the Rocky Mountain Sustainability Summit to attend workshops, lectures, activities and focus groups revolving around campus sustainability. Students met and interacted with staff, faculty, technical experts and other interested/leading students involved with sustainability efforts throughout the rocky mountain region. This was encouraging, motivational and educational and students came back with a host of new ideas, inspiration and leadership tools. The majority of the students who attended from our school were, intentionally, sophomores and freshmen, so that as current student leaders graduate and move on, new leaders are prepared to step in.
SSC had a presence at a three-day leadership training conference offered to UW students by the Good Mule Project (a local organization focused on the synergy between sustainability, social justice and multicultural understanding, and dedicated to training leaders in these areas).
C. Surveys were written and sent out to students across campus asking about their use, knowledge, awareness and opinions towards the optional student wind fee. As a result, we discovered a main reason students weren’t opting in was due to lack of visibility of the option with the new online/electronic tuition and fees payment methods. Currently, the optional wind fee is being streamlined with the electronic payment methods so that those students who are willing to pay it can see it and do it right along with their other school expenses. Furthermore, support for making the fee mandatory was demonstrated, so research into the process of implementing student fees is occurring.
D. Grants were written to and awarded by the student government t0 provide funds to build a new hoop-house, enhance current structures and procure other equipment needed for growth.
SUSTAINABILITY CHALLENGES AND COMPETITIONS
2) Does your group organize any sustainability challenges/competitions for your campus and/or with other colleges?
[ ] No
[x ] Yes
Please list details for each competition.
#1 - Name of competition: Recycle Mania
Year initiated: 2008
Frequency of competition: annual
Participants: campus wide with particular focus on inter-floor/dorm competitions
Incentives: prizes for “dorm-war” winners
Goal of competition: improve our ranking in the national Recycle Mania competition and increase awareness and use of campus recycling facilities
Percent of energy/water/waste reduced: ?
Lasting effects of competition: institutionalizing recycling and waste reduction
Website: n/a
#2 - Name of competition:
Year initiated:
Frequency of competition:
Participants:
Incentives:
Goal of competition:
Percent of energy/water/waste reduced:
Lasting effects of competition:
Website:
SUSTAINABILITY IN STUDENT GOVERNMENT
3) Does your student government include a specific position or committee dedicated to campus sustainability issues?
[ ] No
[ x ] Yes
Please describe: The Student Sustainability Council is a forum for funding, cooperation and collaboration among groups and individuals interested in or somehow connected to sustainability on campus. Through the council, these individual students and groups can elect 1 ex-officio to officially represent them in the student government. This ex-officio attends and participates in student government meetings and activities, and holds all rights and privileges of elected senators, except that he/she cannot vote. The council has a set budget provided by their position as an advisory/informational council, and so does not have to apply for funds for individual events from the student government like recognized student organizations do.
OTHER ACTIVITIES
4) Please describe any additional campus sustainability activities or projects that you or your group has initiated at your school: We plan and host Earth Day (earth week) activities annually.
5) Please list and briefly describe any other student-run organizations related to campus sustainability at your school, and provide URLs if available (e.g., student groups; student government committees; student-run food co-ops, gardens/farms, bike co-ops) and provide contact information of the student leaders, if possible:
ACRES Student Farm; EvolveRevolve (renewable energy [wind] and alternative transportation [bike] focus); Students for a Sustainable Environment (focusing on education, outreach and activism on sustainability issues, 4 main categories: energy, waste, transportation and a responsible diet) and; The Good Mule Project (focusing on the synergy between sustainability, social justice and multicultural understanding, and training leaders in those areas).
Question 6 is for informational purposes only; your response will NOT be included in the Report Card evaluation process.
6) Please list any regional or national networks with which your group is affiliated (e.g., Energy Action Coalition/Campus Climate Challenge, Sierra Student Coalition, a state PIRG, a state student sustainability coalition): None
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